Help! My Dog’s Poop is Orange! Is That Bad?

Most mild changes in the color of your dog’s poop are related to changes in his diet and are not usually cause for alarm. Poop consistency and color can be an indicator of health problems, so you need to observe your dog’s poop. This way, you can prevent problems from getting worse.

What Does Orange Poop Mean?

The color of poop varies from breed to breed and from dog to dog. It also depends on the kind of dog food being fed. In general, your dog’s poop should be medium brown in color. It should not be too hard or too soft to pass comfortably. Pay attention to the healthy poop of your dog, so you can determine when there is a problem.

Orange dog poop could indicate a biliary disease or liver issue. It is also possible that your dog’s food moved too fast through his gastrointestinal tract to pick up the bile. If your pet has orange diarrhea, you should contact your veterinarian.

Black stool may be a sign of stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal ulcer. Human medications can cause stomach ulcer in dogs, so never give human medicine to your pet without consulting the vet first. Purple or pink poop could indicate HGE or hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. If your dog’s poop looks pink or purple, you should seek emergency medical attention. Red poop can mean bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Streaks of blood in the poop can indicate an anal gland infection, tumor, rectal injury or colitis.

Yellow mucus in the poop usually indicates food intolerance. This can happen if you have recently changed your pet’s diet. Take a look at your dog’s diet and exclude new ingredients that could be causing yellow poop. Greasy-looking or grey poop can indicate EPI or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, a disease wherein the pancreas doesn’t produce the required enzymes to digest fat. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency is treatable. Your dog may have green poop if he eats a significant amount of grass. It can also indicate internal issues such as parasite and rat bait poisoning. Visit the veterinarian to be safe.

What to Do

What your dog eats matters, so you should provide him with a consistent diet of high-quality dog food. Prevent your dog from rummaging in compost piles and trash. You should limit human food as well. Some human food that is considered pet safe can cause problems in dogs with sensitive tummies or allergies.

Everyone in the family should know what to feed and what not to feed dogs. It is also important to know what is growing in your backyard because some plants can make dogs sick. Cleaning products, medicines, pest-control chemicals and household trash should be kept out of reach as well because it can harm your pet if they ingest it.

Conclusion

Orange stool can be caused by your dog’s diet or a liver issue. For your peace of mind, it is best that you talk to a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is particularly important if there are other symptoms happening along with the orange poop.